Hockey skate boot including a tongue with one or more comfort channels

ABSTRACT

A skate boot includes a tongue configured to reduce or relieve pressure on the superficial tendons of the anterior region of a skater&#39;s foot. The tongue has an outer portion, an inner portion, and one or more channels, grooves, or openings formed in the inner portion or outer portion. The one or more channels, grooves, or openings are positioned to overlie one or more of the superficial tendons in the anterior region of a skater&#39;s foot.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/679,608, filed Aug. 3, 2012, and now pending, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Ice skating and inline skating are unique forms of human locomotion. There are a variety of sports that utilize ice skates, for example, such as speed skating, ice hockey, and figure skating. When laced tightly, skate boots typically restrict dorsiflexion, a movement that allows the tibia to lean forward when skating. Due to this restriction, superficial tendons, which protrude from the anterior surface of the foot during dorsiflexion, are subjected to increased pressure by the tongue of the skate boot during the skating motion. This increased pressure and restriction of movement can result in inflammation, soreness, and bruising, often referred to as “lace bite” or “skate bite.” While the extensor hallucis longus tendon is most commonly affected by lace bite, other tendons, such as the extensor digitorum longus and the tibialis anterior, may also be affected.

Accordingly, a need exists for an improved skate boot that can relieve the pressure on the superficial tendons of the anterior foot region, while still providing the ability to lace the skates tightly enough to provide adequate stability, ankle support, and the control required for turning and stopping in sports such as hockey.

SUMMARY

A skate boot includes a tongue configured to reduce or relieve pressure on the superficial tendons of the anterior region of a skater's foot. The tongue has an outer portion, an inner portion, and one or more channels, grooves, or openings formed in the inner portion or outer portion. The one or more channels, grooves, or openings are positioned to overlie one or more of the superficial tendons in the anterior region of a skater's foot. Other features and advantages will appear hereinafter. The features described above can be used separately or together, or in various combinations of one or more of them.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hockey skate according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the hockey skate shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a top view of a tongue for a skate boot including a central channel in its inner portion, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the tongue shown in FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4 is perspective view of a skate boot including the tongue shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The inset drawing is a sectional view of the channel formed in the inner portion of the tongue.

FIG. 5A is a top view of a tongue for a skate boot including a medial channel in its inner portion, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5B is a bottom view of the tongue shown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A is a top view of a tongue for a skate boot including two channels in its outer portion, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6B is a bottom view of the tongue shown in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating how the channels in the tongue shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B align with the superficial tendons protruding from the anterior portion of a skater's foot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the invention will now be described. The following description provides specific details for a thorough understanding and enabling description of these embodiments. One skilled in the art will understand, however, that the invention may be practiced without many of these details. Additionally, some well-known structures or functions may not be shown or described in detail so as to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the relevant description of the various embodiments.

The terminology used in the description presented below is intended to be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being used in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. Certain terms may even be emphasized below; however, any terminology intended to be interpreted in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this detailed description section.

Where the context permits, singular or plural terms may also include the plural or singular term, respectively. Moreover, unless the word “or” is expressly limited to mean only a single item exclusive from the other items in a list of two or more items, then the use of “or” in such a list is to be interpreted as including (a) any single item in the list, (b) all of the items in the list, or (c) any combination of items in the list.

The skate and skate boot described herein include, among other features, a tongue having one or more channels, grooves, or openings (collectively referred to herein as “channels” for ease of description) formed in the inner or outer portion of the tongue. The channels are configured to alleviate pressure transferred to one or more superficial tendons of a skater's foot when the skate boot is laced during a skating session. By alleviating this pressure, the skate boot helps to prevent or reduce the likelihood that a skater will develop “lace bite” or tendonitis as a result of tightly lacing the skate boot.

Turning now in detail to the drawings, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a skate 100, such as an ice-hockey skate or inline roller skate, includes a skate boot 110 and a blade assembly 120. The blade assembly 120 includes a blade holder 130 and a skate blade 140. The skate blade 140 is secured to the blade holder 130 via screws, bolts, or other suitable connectors.

A tongue 200 is permanently or removably attached to the toe portion 150 of the shell structure 160 of the skate boot 110. FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 4 illustrate an exemplary tongue 200 for a skate boot 110. In this embodiment, the tongue 200 is removable and includes a tongue attachment point 210 that is removably attachable to a toe attachment point at or near the toe portion 150 of the shell structure 160. In one embodiment, the tongue 200 may be removably attached to the boot 110 via a screw, bolt, or other suitable connector that engages a fastener, such as a t-nut, housed in the toe portion 150 proximate to the toe attachment point. Using a removable tongue 200 may simplify the manufacturing process because the skate boot 110 and the tongue 200 may be manufactured separately and attached during final assembly. In addition, the removable tongue 200 may be easily replaced should it become damaged or replaceable for any other reason.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the tongue 200 includes an outer portion 220 and an inner portion 230. The inner portion 230 includes a central recessed channel 300 formed by a compression molding process or another suitable foam-shaping method. The central channel may have any suitable width, length, and depth to accommodate a variety of foot sizes and to allow the channel to be positioned to overlie one or more superficial tendons in the anterior region of a skater's foot. For example, in one embodiment, the channel 300 may have a width of approximately 40-50 mm, a length of approximately 55-65 mm, and a depth of approximately 10-15 mm. The channels described in other embodiments below may have the same or similar dimensions, as well.

In one embodiment, the tongue 200 may include multiple foam layers. In the illustrated embodiment, two foam layers 240 a, 240 b having different densities or hardness values are positioned in different regions of the tongue 200. For example, a softer layer 240 b may be positioned around the channel 300 to provide additional comfort near a central region of a skater's foot; while a stiffer layer 240 a may be positioned on or around the softer layer 240 b to overlie less sensitive regions of a skater's foot. In one embodiment, the stiffer layer 240 a may have a Shore C hardness of approximately 70 to 80, and the softer layer 240 b may have a Shore C hardness of approximately 30 to 40. The central channel 300 may be formed in the softer foam layer 240 b. This configuration provides additional comfort and relief of pressure on one or more of the superficial tendons in the anterior region of the skater's foot, thus reducing or preventing lace bite.

In one embodiment, the tongue 200 may optionally include one or more thermoplastic pieces that soften at or around 60° C. for safe anatomical shaping. The thermoplastic pieces may be bonded to the tongue 200 in any suitable location. In one embodiment, the thermoplastic pieces may be bonded to the stiffer foam layer 240 a, for example. The thermoplastic pieces provide rigidity and support to the tongue 200. In addition, when heated, the tongue 200 may be custom-shaped to fit a particular skater's foot. The thermoplastic pieces, alone or in combination with the stiffer and softer foam layers 240 a, 240 b, may be covered with a thin piece of felt or similar material to provide added comfort.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, the tongue 200 may include a channel 400 located on the medial side of a wearer's foot, such that it corresponds to the anatomical location of the extensor hallucis longus tendon 600 (as shown in FIG. 7). In certain embodiments, the inner portion 230 of the tongue 200 may include more than one channel formed in the softer foam layer. For example, in addition to the medially positioned channel 400, a second channel may be provided lateral to the center of the tongue 200, such that it corresponds to the anatomical location of the extensor digitorum longus tendon 610 (as shown in FIG. 7). These medial and lateral channels provide relief of pressure on the superficial tendons in the anterior region of the skater's foot, reducing or preventing lace bite.

Referring now to FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7, the tongue 200 may include one or more channels 500 a, 500 b on its exterior or outer portion 220 (“outer channels”). In one embodiment, the outer channels 500 a, 500 b are positioned on the medial and/or lateral sides of the outer portion 220 of the tongue 200, such that they correspond to the anatomical locations of the extensor hallucis longus anterior tendon 600 and the extensor digitorum longus tendon 610, respectively. Because the outer channel regions are thinner than the rest of the tongue, the tongue material is more pliable at these locations. This arrangement reduces the pressure applied on the superficial tendons, thereby reducing or preventing lace bite.

The configuration shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 7 is also advantageous because the inner portion of the tongue 230 may have a continuous surface without any gaps, grooves, openings, edges, or inconsistent surfaces formed by channels on the inner portion 230. Having a continuous surface on the inner portion of the tongue 230 provides a more traditional feeling on top of the skater's foot, while the external channels 500 a, 500 b reduce pressure on the superficial tendons.

The channels 500 a, 500 b may each have any suitable width, length, and depth to accommodate a variety of foot sizes and to allow the channel to be positioned to overlie one or more superficial tendons in the anterior region of a skater's foot. For example, in one embodiment, each channel 500 a, 500 b may have a width of approximately 20-25 mm, a length of approximately 55-65 mm, and a depth of approximately 10-15 mm. The two channels 500 a, 500 b may have the same or different dimensions.

Any of the above-described embodiments may be used alone or in combination with one another. Furthermore, the skate boot may include additional features not described herein. While several embodiments have been shown and described, various changes and substitutions may of course be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The invention, therefore, should not be limited, except by the following claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tongue for a skate boot, comprising: an outer portion; an inner portion configured to rest against an anterior region of a skater's foot; and one or more channels in the outer portion, wherein the channels are positioned to overlie at least one superficial tendon in the anterior region of the skater's foot.
 2. The skate-boot tongue of claim 1 wherein the inner portion has a continuous surface configured to rest against the skater's foot.
 3. The skate-boot tongue of claim 1 wherein the outer portion includes a first channel and a second channel.
 4. The skate-boot tongue of claim 3 wherein the first channel is positioned to overlie the extensor hallucis longus anterior tendon, and the second channel is positioned to overlie the extensor digitorum longus tendon, of the skater's foot.
 5. The skate-boot tongue of claim 3 wherein the first channel has different dimensions than the second channel.
 6. The skate-boot tongue of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more channels has a width of approximately 20 to 25 mm.
 7. The skate-boot tongue of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more channels has a length of approximately 55 to 65 mm.
 8. The skate-boot tongue of claim 1 wherein each of the one or more channels has a depth of approximately 10 to 15 mm.
 9. The skate-boot tongue of claim 1 wherein the tongue includes an attachment portion configured for removable attachment of the tongue to a skate.
 10. The skate-boot tongue of claim 9 wherein the attachment portion comprises an opening configured to receive a connector.
 11. The skate-boot tongue of claim 1 wherein the tongue comprises a plurality of foam layers.
 12. The skate-boot tongue of claim 11 wherein at least two of the foam layers have different hardness values.
 13. A hockey skate, comprising: a body; a tongue attached to the body, the tongue comprising: an outer portion; an inner portion configured to rest against an anterior region of a skater's foot; and at least one channel in the outer portion, wherein each channel is positioned to overlie a superficial tendon in the anterior region of the skater's foot.
 14. The hockey skate of claim 13 wherein the tongue is removably attached to the body.
 15. The hockey skate of claim 14 wherein the tongue is removably attached to the body via at least one screw or bolt.
 16. The skate-boot tongue of claim 13 wherein the inner portion of the tongue has a continuous surface configured to rest against the skater's foot.
 17. The skate-boot tongue of claim 13 wherein the outer portion includes a first channel and a second channel.
 18. The skate-boot tongue of claim 17 wherein the first channel is positioned to overlie the extensor hallucis longus anterior tendon, and the second channel is positioned to overlie the extensor digitorum longus tendon, of the skater's foot.
 19. A hockey skate, comprising: a body; a tongue attached to the body, the tongue comprising: a first channel positioned to overlie the extensor hallucis longus anterior tendon of the skater's foot; and a second channel positioned to overlie the extensor digitorum longus tendon of the skater's foot.
 20. The hockey skate of claim 19 wherein the tongue is removably attached to the body via a connector. 